From Segun Ayinde, Abeokuta
National Publicity Secretary of Labour Party, LP, Obiora Ifoh has dismissed the statement credited to a former Chairman of the party in Ogun State, Comrade Abayomi Arabambi, that plans are underway to expel the presidential candidate of the party in the 2023 elections, Mr Peter Obi, for his involvement in the coalition of African Democratic Congress, ADC.
The coalition involves former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, erstwhile Senate President, David Mark and former Interior Minister, Rauf Aregbesola.
Others involved include former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami and other political bigwigs who came together from their various political parties to adopt the ADC as a political platform to unseat President Bola Tinubu in 2027.
Following the involvement of Obi in the coalition, Arabambi, a former LP Acting Publicity Secretary who was said to have been removed from the position in 2023, said plans are ongoing by the leadership of LP to remove the former Anambra State governor as its member.
Arabambi gave the hint at a press conference in Abeokuta, Ogun State, at the weekend.
However, in a swift reaction, LP’s National Publicity Secretary, Ifoh said the national leadership of the party has disassociated itself from Arabambi’s statement on Obi, insisting that the former LP spokesman lacked the authority to issue such statement.
Ifoh insisted that there was no plan by the party leadership to expel its presidential candidate.
He noted that the party is only concerned about running an all inclusive leadership to take over the reigns of power from the All Progressives Congress, APC, in 2027 and save the masses from the hardship meted out on them.
He added that any plan to eject Obi from the party would affect its principle of inclusiveness.
“That statement is not from Labour Party. We are not expelling anyone. We are running an inclusive leadership,” Ifoh said.
